Surgical device with same two co-operating elements for gripping and severing

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for carrying out surgical operations. The device includes a distal part, a middle part extending from the distal part, and a proximal part mounted on the middle part opposite to the distal part. A gripping element of the device is for gripping body tissue and the like. Another element of the device, near the distal part of the device, is for operating the gripping element. Near the distal part of the device is an element for operating a severing component.

The present invention relates to a surgical device.

Many surgical operations, such as gall bladder operations, are carriedout with the aid of an endoscope. The surgeon firstly makes an incision,wherethrough the endoscope is placed into the body. Through anotherincision, the surgeon brings the surgical instrument into the body inorder to carry out the operation. The surgeon can follow the progress ofthe operation on a screen which provides images from the endoscope. Inthis manner, vary accurate operations can be carried out.

By many of these types of operations, body tissue has to be removed. Inorder to remove such body tissue, it is necessary that this is firstgripped and secured in place, before the tissue can be severed,whereafter the severed bodily tissue can be removed from the body.

To carry out this process, the surgeon uses a device for gripping andsecuring in place the body tissue and a second, separate device forsevering the tissue. Operating these two instruments simultaneouslywhilst also operating the endoscope, requires a great deal of surgicalskill.

Furthermore, with these sorts of operations, a large incision has to bemade in order to accommodate the different surgical instruments at thesame time.

An object of the present invention is to obviate one or more of theseproblems.

The present invention provides an instrument for carrying out one ormore surgical operations comprising:

a distal part;

a middle part extending from the distal part;

a proximal part mounted on the middle part opposite to the distal part;

means for gripping body tissue and the like, which means are mountednear to the proximal part;

means near the proximal part of the device for severing body tissue andthe like;

means near the distal part of the device for operating the grippingmeans and means near the distal part of the device for operating thesevering means.

The present invention enables a surgeon to grip and sever body tissuewithout requiring a change of surgical instruments, whereby the problemof relocating the operation position is obviated.

Furthermore, endoscopic operations are facilitated since the surgeon nowneed only operate one device instead of the previously required twodevices whereby only a relatively small incision is required which inturn leads to less trauma and fewer scars for the patient.

The operating means for the gripping and severing means respectively,preferably comprise support means for the gripping and severing means,and the severing means and/or the gripping means are preferablydisplaceable with respect to each other.

Accordingly the gripping and severing means are independently operable.

The gripping means and severing means preferably comprise the same twoco-operating elements, whereby these elements are preferably moveablewith respect to each other in a first direction in order to provide ascissor-like severing action, and whereby the elements are preferablymoveable with respect to each other in a second direction, in order togrip like a forceps.

In this manner, the two elements can carry out the independent functionsof gripping and severing of body tissue, whereby separate gripping andsevering instruments are no longer necessary.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a methodfor carrying out a surgical operation utilizing this device.

Further advantages, characteristics and details of the present inventionwill become clear with respect to the following description of apreferred embodiment thereof, which refers to the accompanying drawingsin which are shown:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of the device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 a shortened, perspective, partly cut away view of the device fromFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a perspective, partially cut away view of a proximal part of thedevice from FIG. 1 and 2 during carrying out a severing action,

FIG. 4 a perspective, partially cut away view of a proximal part of thedevice from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, during the carrying out of a grippingaction, and

FIG. 5 a perspective view of the device from FIGS. 1 to 4 in use duringa surgical operation.

The device 1 (FIG. 1) has a proximal part 2, a distal part 4 and amiddle part 6 therebetween. Upper and lower finger grips 8 respectively10 are mounted on an outer casing 12.

An upper thumb grip 14 and lower thumb grip 16 protrude from the casing12 at the distal end 4.

Two beak elements 18, 20 are secured to the proximal part 2 of thedevice 1.

An upper rod 22, FIG. 2-4, extends from within the upper thumb grip 14to terminate in a triangular part 24 thereof as shown in the figures.

A lower rod 26 extends from the lower thumb grip 16 through the casing12 to terminate in an upward terminal section 28 thereof.

The upper and lower rods 22, 26 respectably, extend through a bufferplate 30 arranged near the distal end 4 of the device. An upper spring32 extends around the upper rod 22 between the upper thumb grip 14 andthe buffer plate 30.

A lower spring 34 extends around the lower rod 26 from the lower thumbgrip 16 to the buffer plate 30.

An upper slot 36 extends diagonally in a forward direction from the backof the upper beak element 18, and a lower slot 38 extends diagonally, inthe opposite direction to the upper slot 36, in the lower beak element20. The terminal pin section 28 of the lower rod 26 extends through bothof these slots 36, 38 respectably.

The upper beak element 18 is continuous with an upright flat section 40thereof, which lies flat against a corresponding upright flat section 42of the lower beak element 20.

An upwardly extending slot 44 extends from the rear of the flat section40. A corresponding slot 46 also extends downwardly in the flat section42. An end section 48 of the triangular part 24 of the upper rod 22extends through these slots 44, 46 respectably.

A forwardly curved stabilizing pin 50 is arranged in the proximal end 2of the casing 12 to extend through the upper end lower beak elements 18,20 respectably.

A backwardly curved stabilizing pin 52 extends across the casing 12transversely to the stabilizing pin 52, through the upright flatsections 40, 42 respectably.

The upper and lower beak elements 18, 20 respectably are provided withserrated edges 54, 56 respectably (see also FIGS. 3 and 4).

In order to sever tissue, the surgeon arranges his finger around theupper and lower finger grips 8, 10 and his thumb behind the lower thumbgrip 16. On exerting force against the lower thumb grip 16, the lowerrod 26 is pushed forward whereby the terminal pin section 28 thereof ispushed forward in the upper and lower slots 36, 38 of the upper andlower beak elements 18, 20, whereby due to the diagonally opposed natureof the slots, the upper and lower beak elements rotate in oppositedirections about the stabilizing pin 50 to yield a scissor-like severingaction. Control over the degree of severance is provided by the lowerthumb grip being spring tensioned against the buffer plate 30 by meansof the lower spring 34, FIG. 3.

During this motion, the upright flat sections 42, 40 are mutuallydisplaced over the end section 48 of the triangular part 24 of upper rod22.

In order to provide a forceps like gripping action the surgeon againarranges his fingers around the upper and lower finger grips, but thistime exerts force on the upper thumb grip 14 in forward direction. Ondoing so the upper rod 22 is pushed in the direction of the distal end 2of the device whereby the triangular end part 24 is pushed forward inthe diagonally oppositely arranged slots 44, 46 of the upright flatsections 40, 42 of the beak elements 18, 20. On doing so, the upper andlower flat sections 40, 42 rotate about the stabilizing pin 52 inopposite directions so that the beak elements open and close in ajaw-like manner, FIG. 4. During this motion, the beak elements 18, 20are mutually displaced over the stabilizing pin 50.

Control over this gripping action is enhanced by means of the grippingoperation being spring tensioned due to the lower spring 34, andbuffer-plate 30.

In order the yield good severance, the serrated edges of the beakelements do not extend across the whole severing surface thereof,whereby the severing surfaces remain substantially straight.

According to the present invention, the surgeon is therefore providedwith one instrument which can perform both severing and grippingoperations with a high degree of accuracy whereby a good deal of forcecan be exerted in both of these operations, substantially withoutdetriment to the instrument itself, FIG. 5.

The present invention is not limited to the above described andillustrated embodiment, the requested rights are rather determined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for carrying out surgical operationscomprising: a distal part; a middle part extending from the distal part;a proximal part mounted on the middle part opposite to the distal part;means for gripping body tissue and the like, which means are mountednear to the proximal part; means near the proximal part of the devicefor severing body tissue; means near the distal part of the device foroperating the gripping means; means near the distal part of the devicefor operating the severing means, the gripping means and the severingmeans comprise the same two co-operating elements, which preferablyco-operate to form a beak-like unit; and one or both of the co-operatingelements being displaceable in a first severing direction to provide asevering action, and one or both of the co-operating elements being alsodisplaceable in a second gripping direction to provide a grippingaction.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each element has asubstantially flat part, and a substantially upright part connectedthereto, wherein a first slot is arranged in the flat parts and whereina second slot is arranged in the upright parts.
 3. The device accordingto claim 2, wherein gripping transmission means extend through the firstor second slots, and wherein severing transmission means extend throughthe second or first severing slots.
 4. The device according to claim 1,wherein the gripping operating means comprise support means for thegripping means.
 5. The device according to claim 6, wherein the grippingsupport means is moveable.
 6. The device according to claim 1, whereinthe severing operating means comprise support means for the severingmeans.
 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the severing supportmeans is moveable.
 8. The device according to claim 6, wherein thesevering support means and the gripping support means are moveable withrespect to each other.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein thesupport means are substantially enclosed in a protective housing, whichis preferably tubular in form.